Eight ideas to restore MLB All-Star Game’s slipping luster

ARLINGTON, Texas — The MLB All-Star Game is still a treasure, and certainly far better than the disaster that is most of those other all-star games. And yet, it still needs help — lots of help. (Much more on that below, but first a word about the other all-star games.)

The NBA All-Star Game features so little defense you and I could go for double digits.

The NHL All-Star Game is improved in a gimmicky way, but it’s “not hockey,” according to my hockey expert.

Of course, the NFL Pro Bowl can’t ever work because, understandably, no one wants to risk life or even limb in a lightly watched exhibition.

As for the Midsummer Classic, it isn’t close to hopeless. It is fixable. And that’s where we come in.

While it still kills other star showcases for repute and ratings — not only does the All-Star Game draw a bigger TV audience than other star events, even the Home Run Derby outdraws those other games — ratings hit new lows five of the past seven years.

It also feels like it’s lost a little luster.

We have enough suggestions to help (and there should be hope because overall MLB ratings this year are up on Fox, ESPN and MLB Network). Here goes.

It’s sweet to get everyone in, but these upper-tier stars need to play nine. That should be obvious.

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Something’s wrong when the Padres have five All-Stars and the Mets only one. That West Coast bias is a powerful thing, but this is just ridiculous.

Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor (who’s tied for third in WAR with Harper) should be here. Lindor ascribed his absence to needing to have a better start, and Nimmo to needing to be more popular. Reality: It’s the system.

I don’t want to name names, but a couple of the guys have no more business being here than Angel Hernandez.

For years we worried about fan voting. But it turns out the real issue is player voting. Players are too busy competing to study all the stats. Let’s face it, compared to engaged fans, some of them don’t know jack.

Employ a statistical system for reserves. And don’t insist on a set number at each position. If there are four deserving shortstops, so be it.

And definitely don’t require a player from every team. Some teams are tanking. Tanking teams don’t deserve All Stars.

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This is basically unanimous. (If you don’t agree, tweet to me, and I’ll know to mute you because you have no taste.)

We shouldn’t have to rely on Pete Alonso to save the derby every year. Ohtani and Judge need to be in, too.

Judge suggested extra days to rest might help, and OK, I’m all for it if it gets him and Ohtani in.

If it’s about a fear of messing up one’s swing (Judge said that’s not it, by the way), MLB.com number crunchers say that’s a myth.

I suggested they raise the prize, but an Ohtani insider said that won’t do it. (That’s no surprise since we’ve learned he really isn’t about money. And neither is Judge.)

This one is controversial. In fact, one MLB person protested, saying, “Someone would get killed.”

Harper said we’d see Judge hit the ball 140 mph. (Good, I say!). Harper had some safety concerns, too, but he seemed intrigued, and suggested the aluminum could be pulled out for the last five balls.

Harper did wonder if it might be dangerous for the kids fielding balls in the outfield and even fans in the bleachers. (I’d say the kids in the outfield should go, anyway. But I’d take my chances from 330-plus feet.)

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Let’s be frank. The best Home Run Derbies came during the steroid era. Back in 2002, before we discovered some guys were juiced, guys were hitting balls that flew out of the Brewers’ stadium.

This would be similar. But juice the bats, not the bodies.

The bunting competition/hit placement event was interesting for Futures competitors. You could add a throwing competition, and a running event. Let’s see who’s faster between Garrett Mitchell, Bobby Witt Jr. and Elly De La Cruz.

“Skills competitions are kind of cool,” Harper said.

We agree.

No disrespect to Bruce Bochy, who’s the best manager the last quarter century, or Torey Lovullo, a sweetheart of a man who pulled off a near-miracle last year. But why the teams are managed by last year’s World Series managers I have no idea. Why not make it the best manager this year — Rob Thomson, Pat Murphy, Stephen Vogt and Alex Cora make more sense.

We need to incentivize victory somehow. Traditionalists shouted this idea away, and maybe I’m in the minority here, but effort and interest rise if something’s at stake.

OK MLB, the baseball’s in your court now.

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